Volume 5 Nos 1 and 2 December 2000 LONGINES' T--' Xjenza 2000; 5:1/2 1 Contents .- editorial Is There a Future for Xjenza? 2 Oficial Journal of the Mlrlm Chamber of research articles Nignments Along the Main Axes at Scientists Mnajdra Temples Chris Micalief Edilor Angela Xuereb Preliminary report on B-carotene production in the halotolerant microalga Associate Editon Dunaliella bardawil 16 Marlin Ebejcr Richard Muscat Zammit-Mangion Marion and Felice Alex Editaria1 Address Xjenza, The Newton-Leibniz Priority Dispute 20 C/o University of Malta, ct?=ticlt? Gwardamangia, Emmanuel Cardona 1Malm. ~0ntmentUry Reflections On The Coming Era of Tel: (+356) 25951882 Artificial Intelligence Rx: (456) 235638 Nicholas Sarnmut Typeset Anthony Sullana abstracts Biology Symposium Printers PEG. Ltd., news Science Fair - 6th to 8th ApriI 2000 San Gwann. instructions for authors Cover Picture: Pull nioon alignment at Mnaidra lowcr temple. (Phoio: Mr. ~auri&Mieallef). P.O. Box 45, Valletta B.P.O., Valletta, Malta. 02000 Molm Chamber of Scienrirfs Xjenza 2000; 5212 Editorial Is There a Future for Xjenza? This issue of Xjenza is a single issue for the year 2000. the other fully-fledged scientists? Where are the results It is not for the lack of sponsorship or funds, or an over- of their research on crucial local issues - on atmos- worked editorial board. There simply were insufficient pheric pollution, on marine pollution, on waste manage- contributions to justify more than one issue. In the main, ment? Why is it that we only read snippets about such the papers featured in this issue were the only ones sub- local research in newspapers - headlines to cater for the mitted to Xjenza during the year. One might well ask: politicians' whims be they of one colour or of another - "Has no more research of local interest been carried out it really does not matter. So where are all our local ex- or written up?" or on a more optimistic note: "Is all the perts? Is it truly mainly the case that it is foreign experts research that is carried out being published in interna- who are engaged to give an assessment of a particular tional journals?" If the answer to the latter question is situation requiring scientific expertise at an exorbitant yes, then there is no point in prolonging the soul- fee while the local experts are denied the opportunity to searching. If the answer is yes in either case, the conclu- make their valid contribution in a matter clearly within sion must be that there obviously is not the market for their field of specialisation? Or is it possible that the Xjenza. In which case, do we call it a day, and fold? results of much work is precluded from being published for reasons of 'political sensitivity'? Realistically speaking, though, do we honestly believe that this is the case? Considering the number of disserta- Or is all this perhaps indicative of a more serious un- tions that are presented by students reading for a degree derlying malaise that is spreading throughout the aca- in the Sciences, at the end of each academic year, are demic corridors of this country? Working conditions for we to believe that all this research receives international academics are so poor that scientists perhaps are asking readership, or are the results left bound in a thesis some- themselves the question "What am I doing this research where in the supervisor's office or laboratory gathering for? There is no remuneration attached to it, so why dust? Are we giving our students the necessary training should I waste my time when I could be doing lucrative in scientific communication? The Biology Department work?" Is the same perhaps being asked when it comes hold an annual symposium on the current research ef- to writing up a paper with a view to publishing in fected in the area, and students do present their work Xjenza? and write abstracts and short papers that are collated in the form of conference proceedings. Xjenza publishes We embarked on the project of this journal in 1996, and these abstracts in the December issue of that year. The we did so, knowing the difficulties and frustrations, with Department of Pharmacy do likewise. However, these energy and enthusiasm because we felt there was a need are exceptions to the rule. for such a journal - a journal to provide a local outlet for the work of scientists in Malta. One aim was to en- It would be an excellent idea to have a formal course in hance undergraduate science literacy and communica- science communication in every undergraduate science tion skills. To date we have had only one undergraduate degree, where students are made to publish research re- contribution. We urge many more students to come for- sults as part of their degree course work. In this way, ward, and we ask lecturers to encourage students to do scientists going into different walks of life would learn SO. to communicate with colleagues and also with non- scientists, be the latter, the general public or the media. This is a plea to all of you out there to keep Xjenza go- The ability to communicate one's ideas and thoughts ing in such ways for the good of all, otherwise we shall effectively is becoming increasingly important as soci- be facing extinction like so many journals have before ety and economics grow more entwined with science us. Believe me, it is worth saving if only because the and technology. effort of re-starting is devoutly to be un-wished upon anyone. On a personal note, if you will permit it, here is Undergraduate dissertations are by no means the only also hoping that this plea to you as Editor will fall on potential source of worthy Xjenza papers. In fact we fertile ground. I leave it with you readers to mull this have only had a few articles based on students' under- over, consider how you may contribute through submis- graduate work in the nine issues of Xjenza over the past sion of papers or help others to contribute a paper to our four years. Xjenza, and keep it (and me) going for the benefit of Maltese science. While acknowledging the contribution made by a num- ber of colleagues, and mindful of the fact that the jour- Angela Xuereb nal should not be a forum for these few, where are all Editor. Research Article -- Alignments Along the Main Axes at Mnajdra Temples Chris Micallef 9, Casa Micallef, Triq il-Bwieraq, Sta Lucija. Summary: The Mnajdra temple has been the subject of controversy over the years with regards to the sun alignments with the lower (solar) temple. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether there were in fact any alignments with celestial bodies along the main axes at the Mnajdra complex. An analysis of the use of a megalithic unit for the erection of the Mnajdra temples was also carried out. Keywords: equinox, solstice, precession, declinations, azimuth, ellipse - eccentricity. I. Introduction the discussion regarding the orientation of the main axes Did megalithic man possess the fundamentals of field of the Mnajdra temples, to investigate the possibility of astronomy, or archaeoastronomy as otherwise known any astronomical alignments, and to consider the today? The conclusions about the Mnajdra complex geometrical properties of their ground plans. derived so far certainly show that prehistoric man was indeed a good observer of the movement of the sun. The Mnajdra temple of Qrendi Parish has been surveyed Without any kind of speculation, a prehistoric builder and analysed for many decades since its excavation in must have noted the position of the rising sun and was 1836. Many archaeologists, excavators and technical intrigued or alarmed by the stationary position of the missions have written about this temple from the sun's disc at the summer and winter solstices. Between archaeological and historical point of view but nobody these two extreme sightings, the sun appears to perform had ever attempted to consider the temple's orientation a pendulum movement through one whole year. Even up to the year 1979. Alfred Xuereb and Paul I. Micallef more intriguing is the effect of the movements of other (1990), as well as Frank Ventura and George Agius celestial bodies that could have been observed in the (1980), initiated a new approach by investigating the lower, high and small trefoil temples at the Mnajdra orientation of this unique temple in the Mediterranean. complex. Distant markers or foresights might have been The lower Mnajdra temple provided a challenge in natural alignment points (cleft or notch), but holes with fieldwork where linear and angular measurements are stakes or stone pillars might have been other concerned. The preliminary task of the investigators was possibilities to establish a fixed foresight. The shifting to survey in detail the lower temple and to establish the of a distant mark or foresight is not very practical, so the true geographical north by solar observations. observer must have marked the final position of a required back-sight by a rod or pointed stone. A pointed As all the results depended upon the accuracy of the true stone increases the accuracy when sighting a foresight geographical north, angles were scrupulously measured. in line with the rising sun. It is important to note that not The first result that was obtained by Micallef, was that all pointed stones are phallic symbols as usually the Mnajdra temple is a device, the use of which allows accepted in archaeology. Pointed markers may also one to predict the first day of the four seasons of the serve alignment purposes. At the entrance of the south year, 21" March (Vernal equinox), 21" June (Summer temple at Mnajdra, one finds a small pointed stone on solstice), 231d September (Autumnal equinox) and 22nd the left-hand side of the main entrance.